Your recent letter [July 26] to the Patriot commenting on my Constitution article and the 1st Amendment with respect to the establishment of a religion deserves further response.

Specifically, while you are certainly correct in quoting Jefferson and his letter to the Baptist minister concerning a “wall of separation between church and state,” I am afraid you have fallen into the same trap as propounded by Hitler’s Minister of Propaganda, Goebbels. He is reputed to have said, “tell a lie and repeat it often enough and it will eventually be accepted as fact or truth.”

The fact that Jefferson wrote such a statement does not automatically incorporate it in the Constitution no matter how many times it is repeated, and it is a disservice to both Jefferson and the Constitution to do so. After all, Jefferson was not even involved in the writing of the Constitution.

Yes, it is an interpretation that has been widely used by the ACLU in its ongoing attempts to remove any vestiges of the religious foundations of our country and to employ the power of government in doing so. That still does not give it license to be included as a part of the document.

Jefferson’s statement is, in my view, being misunderstood and distorted for the devious purposes of those who are opposed to religion in any form. “Wall of separation” does not automatically convey the removal of one idea from another. It does mean, however, that they must stand on their own footing. To interpret it as meaning the denial of a religious background to our nation is without substance or proof. It does unequivocally state that neither should interfere with the other which is, of course, exactly what the 1st Amendment states, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; . . .’(emphasis added).”

Again, that’s my view and I believe it.

I respect your opinion, Mr. Kane, and greatly appreciate your taking the time to communicate with me.